Silas Johnson
@profsilas.bsky.social
I do math and play Pokemon, and apparently make art sometimes. He/him.
Trans women are women. There is no asterisk in that sentence, and I have absolutely no time for anything that suggests otherwise, including but not limited to "except when they play sports".
People get confused about the trans sports thing because at a glance it seems like a small issue that impacts a very small number of people and thus makes sense as a "reasonable" concession. But it isn't, because conceding that is accepting that a kid's trans identity is on some level fraudulent
September 11, 2026 at 4:10 AM
Trans women are women. There is no asterisk in that sentence, and I have absolutely no time for anything that suggests otherwise, including but not limited to "except when they play sports".
Reposted by Silas Johnson
here is the american mathematical society's statement on the navier-stokes issue
September 9, 2026 at 11:10 PM
here is the american mathematical society's statement on the navier-stokes issue
I spent most of my life so far being a decent mathematician and a bad artist*. I decided a few years ago to try learning to draw, and became at least okay at it. It's made me a better mathematician, because now I actually understand that I've been doing something *creative* this whole time.
Basically, math papers should now no longer be about
‣ I've solved this problem / proved this conjecture
but rather about
‣ I found and understood something instructive / enlightening / surprising / beautiful / useful, and I want to share it with you and explain it.
‣ I've solved this problem / proved this conjecture
but rather about
‣ I found and understood something instructive / enlightening / surprising / beautiful / useful, and I want to share it with you and explain it.
September 8, 2026 at 1:41 PM
I spent most of my life so far being a decent mathematician and a bad artist*. I decided a few years ago to try learning to draw, and became at least okay at it. It's made me a better mathematician, because now I actually understand that I've been doing something *creative* this whole time.
Among other things, it sounds like at one point, this involved researcher A demanding that B remove C from authorship of a paper, on which A would not also be a coauthor. Is there any circumstance under which that's consistent with academic ethics?
For anyone not following the drama, there's been apparently a big development in ai math, along with some accusations of very bad behavior by OpenAI. But we don't have details yet.
If I understand it, Buckmaster and Levent Alpoge made a big discovery on Navier-Stokes. Events go something like this:
If I understand it, Buckmaster and Levent Alpoge made a big discovery on Navier-Stokes. Events go something like this:
copying here so it's in-thread too bsky.app/profile/mbar...
September 8, 2026 at 1:22 PM
Among other things, it sounds like at one point, this involved researcher A demanding that B remove C from authorship of a paper, on which A would not also be a coauthor. Is there any circumstance under which that's consistent with academic ethics?
Reposted by Silas Johnson
For anyone not following the drama, there's been apparently a big development in ai math, along with some accusations of very bad behavior by OpenAI. But we don't have details yet.
If I understand it, Buckmaster and Levent Alpoge made a big discovery on Navier-Stokes. Events go something like this:
If I understand it, Buckmaster and Levent Alpoge made a big discovery on Navier-Stokes. Events go something like this:
copying here so it's in-thread too bsky.app/profile/mbar...
lolol 🍿 cims.nyu.edu/~tristanb/st...
September 8, 2026 at 9:45 AM
For anyone not following the drama, there's been apparently a big development in ai math, along with some accusations of very bad behavior by OpenAI. But we don't have details yet.
If I understand it, Buckmaster and Levent Alpoge made a big discovery on Navier-Stokes. Events go something like this:
If I understand it, Buckmaster and Levent Alpoge made a big discovery on Navier-Stokes. Events go something like this:
Reposted by Silas Johnson
It is Followers' Cats Week for the upcoming week! I am going to creep through my followers on my different social media and pick a random cat from someone's profile. For today, it is the one and only Vertical Benny! Cat of @taterdash.bsky.social #art #cat #illustration
September 7, 2026 at 4:25 AM
It is Followers' Cats Week for the upcoming week! I am going to creep through my followers on my different social media and pick a random cat from someone's profile. For today, it is the one and only Vertical Benny! Cat of @taterdash.bsky.social #art #cat #illustration
In yesterday's intro-to-proof class, I managed to invoke the Blues Brothers and Dolly Parton in the same example problem.
The problem: use quantifiers to express the statement "everybody loves somebody" in terms of symbolic logic.
The problem: use quantifiers to express the statement "everybody loves somebody" in terms of symbolic logic.
September 4, 2026 at 1:15 PM
In yesterday's intro-to-proof class, I managed to invoke the Blues Brothers and Dolly Parton in the same example problem.
The problem: use quantifiers to express the statement "everybody loves somebody" in terms of symbolic logic.
The problem: use quantifiers to express the statement "everybody loves somebody" in terms of symbolic logic.
Reposted by Silas Johnson
I also told them that if I was the president I would be doing many things differently but IN PARTICULAR I would make it illegal for calculators to have the "do it" button labeled with the "=" sign because THAT IS NOT WHAT THE FUCK "=" MEANS
September 4, 2026 at 12:19 AM
I also told them that if I was the president I would be doing many things differently but IN PARTICULAR I would make it illegal for calculators to have the "do it" button labeled with the "=" sign because THAT IS NOT WHAT THE FUCK "=" MEANS
Reposted by Silas Johnson
Actually good #mathnews? A proof that there are infinitely many pairs of consecutive primes whose difference is at most 240
No, I don’t understand the proof, but I can appreciate the result
#MathSky #SciSky
No, I don’t understand the proof, but I can appreciate the result
#MathSky #SciSky
Bounded gaps between primes
Polymath8b proved that $H_1 = \liminf (p_{n+1}-p_n) \leq 246$. In this paper we show how the Bombieri-Vinogradov theorem can be combined with newer equidistribution estimates for smooth moduli to obta...
arxiv.org
September 1, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Reposted by Silas Johnson
I won "best in show" in the coloring contest at my friend's Pokemon Worlds watch party :)
The prize was a giant Fuecoco squishmallow
#art #playpokemon
The prize was a giant Fuecoco squishmallow
#art #playpokemon
August 31, 2026 at 3:01 PM
I won "best in show" in the coloring contest at my friend's Pokemon Worlds watch party :)
The prize was a giant Fuecoco squishmallow
#art #playpokemon
The prize was a giant Fuecoco squishmallow
#art #playpokemon
I'm at a world championships watch party that's holding a coloring contest. #PlayPokemon
August 30, 2026 at 10:05 PM
I'm at a world championships watch party that's holding a coloring contest. #PlayPokemon
Alright, I'll put in a prediction for #PokemonTCG worlds in 2027: Either Paris or Singapore.
August 30, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Alright, I'll put in a prediction for #PokemonTCG worlds in 2027: Either Paris or Singapore.
Reposted by Silas Johnson
We need to build a second Fair above, or below, the current Fairgrounds
August 29, 2026 at 10:58 PM
We need to build a second Fair above, or below, the current Fairgrounds
Reposted by Silas Johnson
Ok so, this shirt was a HUGE hit at the fair. I've never been stopped more for anything remotely as much as people of all ages stopped to compliment this shirt.
@racketmn.com if you find a vendor at the fair to sell these next year, they'll sell like Amish Donuts.
@racketmn.com if you find a vendor at the fair to sell these next year, they'll sell like Amish Donuts.
In better news, got my first high five for my @racketmn.com shirt
August 28, 2026 at 1:14 AM
Ok so, this shirt was a HUGE hit at the fair. I've never been stopped more for anything remotely as much as people of all ages stopped to compliment this shirt.
@racketmn.com if you find a vendor at the fair to sell these next year, they'll sell like Amish Donuts.
@racketmn.com if you find a vendor at the fair to sell these next year, they'll sell like Amish Donuts.
I assume they already had this in their repertoire, but I do like thinking that someone got the news over dinner yesterday, stayed up all night arranging, and had this ready to rehearse first thing in the morning.
Buckingham Palace band playing 9 to 5 for Dolly Parton
August 26, 2026 at 3:14 PM
I assume they already had this in their repertoire, but I do like thinking that someone got the news over dinner yesterday, stayed up all night arranging, and had this ready to rehearse first thing in the morning.
Reposted by Silas Johnson
(1/2) Since I haven't seen anyone else mention this one... It was an open secret that Dolly Parton secretly funded a massive number of southern high school bands, most especially predominantly Black high schools. A marching band member in her youth, Dolly never forgot the joy that playing snare drum
(1/3) With Dolly Parton's passing, I want to put good words on the wind for her. Feel free to quote reply with your own.
Dolly became the single largest donor for the Moderna COVID vaccine because of a chance encounter and friendship with a Vanderbilt researcher Dr. Naji Abumrad years earlier. She
Dolly became the single largest donor for the Moderna COVID vaccine because of a chance encounter and friendship with a Vanderbilt researcher Dr. Naji Abumrad years earlier. She
August 25, 2026 at 7:52 PM
(1/2) Since I haven't seen anyone else mention this one... It was an open secret that Dolly Parton secretly funded a massive number of southern high school bands, most especially predominantly Black high schools. A marching band member in her youth, Dolly never forgot the joy that playing snare drum
Reposted by Silas Johnson
The fell eye of the cosmic Cookie Monster turns toward us. All shall crumble.
From NASA:
It happened again! Here's Phobos passing in front of the Sun as seen by the Perseverance rover from the surface of Mars on Aug. 12. science.nasa.gov/photojournal...
It happened again! Here's Phobos passing in front of the Sun as seen by the Perseverance rover from the surface of Mars on Aug. 12. science.nasa.gov/photojournal...
August 25, 2026 at 1:42 AM
The fell eye of the cosmic Cookie Monster turns toward us. All shall crumble.
Reposted by Silas Johnson
1/3: Someone has been harassing me non-stop this past week to try to stop me from attending Worlds.
They created tickets w/ Pokémon Support, accounts here, Instagram, Bluesky, YT & now they're emailing large creators their fake screenshots.
Known accounts are listed in reply.
They created tickets w/ Pokémon Support, accounts here, Instagram, Bluesky, YT & now they're emailing large creators their fake screenshots.
Known accounts are listed in reply.
August 22, 2026 at 4:43 PM
1/3: Someone has been harassing me non-stop this past week to try to stop me from attending Worlds.
They created tickets w/ Pokémon Support, accounts here, Instagram, Bluesky, YT & now they're emailing large creators their fake screenshots.
Known accounts are listed in reply.
They created tickets w/ Pokémon Support, accounts here, Instagram, Bluesky, YT & now they're emailing large creators their fake screenshots.
Known accounts are listed in reply.
Reposted by Silas Johnson
August 14, 2026 at 3:04 AM
Reposted by Silas Johnson
I wouldn't call myself a cartoonist, but I had the vision and just needed it to be on paper to the best of my ability.
August 12, 2026 at 7:32 PM
I wouldn't call myself a cartoonist, but I had the vision and just needed it to be on paper to the best of my ability.
Who put the Rice Marching Owl Band in charge of the Secret Service?
August 11, 2026 at 3:56 AM
Who put the Rice Marching Owl Band in charge of the Secret Service?
Reposted by Silas Johnson
The extent to which I would notice it at all would be me being less irritated when I Google something
August 5, 2026 at 3:47 AM
The extent to which I would notice it at all would be me being less irritated when I Google something
Reposted by Silas Johnson
wow what a blessing to exist
August 4, 2026 at 5:05 PM
wow what a blessing to exist
Reposted by Silas Johnson
A PSA to my fellow cis people who are (or want to believe they are) trans allies
If you are getting pushback from trans people
and your reaction is to be all “no! not me! I’m one of the good ones!”
please remember that “being one of the good ones” is something you DO, not something you ARE
If you are getting pushback from trans people
and your reaction is to be all “no! not me! I’m one of the good ones!”
please remember that “being one of the good ones” is something you DO, not something you ARE
August 4, 2026 at 3:04 PM
A PSA to my fellow cis people who are (or want to believe they are) trans allies
If you are getting pushback from trans people
and your reaction is to be all “no! not me! I’m one of the good ones!”
please remember that “being one of the good ones” is something you DO, not something you ARE
If you are getting pushback from trans people
and your reaction is to be all “no! not me! I’m one of the good ones!”
please remember that “being one of the good ones” is something you DO, not something you ARE